Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their employees: Experiences from Cabo Verde
This document is part of a series of case studies by the ENTERPRISES Department of the ILO. Each case study presents one or several approaches that contribute to enterprise formalization across the world. The case studies provide a snapshot on a particular initiative and may not be exhaustive.
Women entrepreneurs in Cabo Verde's informal markets, particularly in Praia's Sucupira area, often face significant barriers to business formalization. Despite operating in a vital sector of the economy, these women typically lack access to social protection, credit, and formal business networks.
Since 2011, the ILO has been actively promoting enterprise formalization in Cabo Verde. At the macro-meso level, the ILO has supported the Government of Cabo Verde in designing and reforming the simplified legal regime for micro and small enterprises (MSEs), as well as developing suitable incentive mechanisms to encourage formalization. In 2020, the ILO launched a pilot initiative at the meso-micro level, targeting women entrepreneurs in Praia’s informal markets, providing them with tailored support through local partners to transition to the formal economy. In light of the pandemic, this support was even more timely as it enhanced women entrepreneurs to increase the resilience of their business through formalization which unlocked much-needed access to finance and social security benefits.
Case studies of enterprises formalization